The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (November 29) the results of the 2015 Annual Survey of Economic Activities - Information and Communications, Financing and Insurance, Professional and Business Services Sectors.

Amongst the industry sectors covered by the survey, the financing (except banking) industry recorded the largest total receipts (comprising business receipts and other income) in 2015, followed by the insurance industry and the banking industry. The other industry sectors in descending order in terms of total receipts were information and communications; administrative and support service activities; and professional, scientific and technical activities.

In the financing (except banking) industry, total receipts amounted to $627.0 billion in 2015, representing an increase of 5.3% compared with 2014. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 4.2% compared with 2014 to $79.2 million in 2015. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 4.1% year-on-year to $207.9 billion in 2015. Gross surplus, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses, compensation of employees and (where applicable) value of purchases of goods for sale, increased from $395.6 billion in 2014 to $419.1 billion in 2015, accounting for 66.8% of total receipts in 2015. Value added, which provides a measure of the contribution of this industry to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), increased by 10.1% compared with 2014 to $88.2 billion in 2015. In 2015, the financing (except banking) industry comprised about 7 900 establishments and engaged about 82 800 persons, or an average of 10.5 persons per establishment.

In the insurance industry, total receipts increased by 6.6% over 2014 to $459.2 billion in 2015. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 6.6% compared with 2014 to $177.3 million in 2015. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 11.1% year-on-year to $49.7 billion in 2015. In 2015, the insurance industry comprised about 2 600 establishments and engaged about 68 600 persons, or an average of 26.5 persons per establishment.

In the banking industry, total receipts amounted to $405.2 billion in 2015, representing an increase of 7.2% compared with 2014. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 8.8% compared with 2014 to $1.6 billion in 2015. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 4.7% year-on-year to $192.3 billion in 2015. In 2015, the banking industry comprised 257 establishments and engaged about 104 100 persons, or an average of 405.1 persons per establishment.

In compiling gross surplus and value added of the banking industry and the insurance industry, other data sources are required to supplement the data collected through this survey and these statistics are to be compiled under the framework of GDP. Statistics on value added of these two industries will shortly be released by the C&SD separately.

In the information and communications sector, total receipts amounted to $206.5 billion in 2015, representing an increase of 6.2% compared with 2014. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 5.4% compared with 2014 to $20.5 million in 2015. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together decreased by 0.7% year-on-year to $135.4 billion in 2015. Gross surplus increased from $40.1 billion in 2014 to $43.1 billion in 2015, accounting for 20.9% of total receipts in 2015. Value added increased by 3.4% compared with 2014 to $79.0 billion in 2015. In 2015, the information and communications sector comprised about 10 100 establishments and engaged about 105 200 persons, or an average of 10.5 persons per establishment.

In the administrative and support service activities sector, total receipts amounted to $154.1 billion in 2015, representing an increase of 6.1% compared with 2014. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 6.1% compared with 2014 to $12.9 million in 2015. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 5.2% year-on-year to $142.5 billion in 2015. Gross surplus increased from $9.0 billion in 2014 to $10.7 billion in 2015, accounting for 6.9% of total receipts in 2015. Value added increased by 5.2% compared with 2014 to $48.9 billion in 2015. In 2015, the administrative and support service activities sector comprised about 12 000 establishments and engaged about 224 900 persons, or an average of 18.8 persons per establishment.

In the professional, scientific and technical activities sector, total receipts amounted to $137.2 billion in 2015, representing an increase of 5.2% compared with 2014. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 2.8% compared with 2014 to $5.3 million in 2015. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 5.3% year-on-year to $109.2 billion in 2015. Gross surplus increased from $25.9 billion in 2014 to $26.9 billion in 2015, accounting for 19.6% of total receipts in 2015. Value added increased by 6.0% compared with 2014 to $73.7 billion in 2015. In 2015, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector comprised about 25 800 establishments and engaged about 141 300 persons, or an average of 5.5 persons per establishment.

Selected statistics for the sectors mentioned above are shown in the attached table. More detailed statistics will be given in the report "Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Information and Communications, Financing and Insurance, Professional and Business Services Sectors in 2015". Users can download this report (in PDF format) free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp350.jsp?productCode=B1080013) as from end-December 2016.

For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the information and communications, financing and insurance, professional and business services sectors, please contact the Business Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7268 or email: business-services@censtatd.gov.hk).